The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island

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The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island is a single player and multiplayer arcade action adventure game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Plowgames and was released on May 2, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island" is a top-down adventure game with nostalgic 16-bit style graphics and music, available on multiple platforms. Explore a small island and a large dungeon, battle numerous monsters, and discover hidden paths with the use of bombs. The game includes a second island and dungeon, with a future sequel in the works featuring a larger overworld, towns, and dungeons.

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

music3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game successfully captures a retro Zelda feel with its pixel art, sound effects, and music, appealing to fans of classic games.
Co-op gameplay is a strong feature that could enhance the experience, making it more enjoyable for players who like to play with friends.
At its low price point, the game offers a decent short experience for those looking for a quick nostalgic adventure.

The game is extremely short, with most players completing it in under an hour, leaving many feeling unsatisfied with the content.
Combat and puzzles are overly simplistic and lack depth, making gameplay feel repetitive and uninspired.
The game lacks a distinct identity and variety in enemy behavior, making it feel more like a proof of concept than a fully realized product.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic titles like "The Legend of Zelda," featuring basic mechanics, swimming, and a variety of enemies and items. While it captures some of the Zelda essence, it falls short in offering substantial gameplay impacts through item discovery. Overall, it is recommended for fans seeking a short and simple gaming experience.
- “Furthermore, after going through the opening dialogue, I was greeted with a beautifully handcrafted island complete with swimming mechanics, a variety of enemies, and items to obtain.”
- “I mentioned that this game only succeeded in capturing the Zelda feel to some extent, although not fully, and that's due to this game's gameplay.”
- “There are a few secrets to find, and although I would have liked to find some items that more substantially impacted the gameplay, I would still recommend this game to fans of short and simple game experiences.”
- “It had the basic mechanics that you expect from Link to the Past.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music effectively captures a retro Zelda feel, complementing its pixel art and sound effects. While the soundtrack is described as nice and fitting for the game's simple, Zelda-like design, it may not stand out significantly. Overall, it contributes to a pleasant retro vibe.
- “The game obviously has the goal to capture that retro Zelda game feel, and with its pixel art, sound effects, and music, I'd say it succeeded here to some extent.”
- “A short and simple Zelda-like with a nice soundtrack and two maps to explore.”
- “Still, it's got a pleasant retro vibe, and the music isn't terrible.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is derived from its absurd brevity and simplistic design, which some players find amusing, particularly those with limited time. However, others view the short length and anticlimactic conclusion as a drawback rather than a comedic feature. Overall, the humor may resonate differently depending on individual preferences for game length and depth.
- “The game is hilariously short, which could be appealing to someone who's usually very busy, though I personally wouldn't call it appealing since it's not even an hour long.”
- “It's a 3-4 screen walk to a dungeon, and the extremely simplistic dungeon itself leads to a hilariously anticlimactic end screen.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The story aspect of the game is seen as underdeveloped, with players expressing a desire for a more substantial narrative akin to titles like "Ocean's Heart" or "Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King." While there are hints of a storyline, particularly in the manual, many reviewers feel that it lacks depth and engagement beyond the initial introduction.
- “I hope the developer considers making a sequel that compares to 'Ocean's Heart' or 'Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King' in terms of content and story because I would definitely buy it. The potential for a pirate-themed, Zelda-like game is incredible.”
- “There's a tease of a story - particularly in the manual - but I didn't see any sign of it other than the opening frame or two.”
- “I hope the developer considers making a sequel that compares to 'Ocean's Heart' or 'Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King' in terms of content and story, because I would definitely buy it. The potential for a pirate-themed, Zelda-like game is insane.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are consistently praised for their high quality, contributing to an overall positive visual experience.

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The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island is a arcade action adventure game with fantasy and anime themes.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, Windows and others.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island was released on May 2, 2022.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island was developed by Plowgames.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, Rogue Hero, Eternal Edge, Shipwreck, Unsung Warriors - Prologue and others.

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